








■mxmjmmmwBrm 



Short-:-Poems 

BY GRANT KYLER 

THE PRlNTER-FOeT 



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FIRST EDITION— LIMITED. 

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Dedicated to My Dear Friend. 

WILL. P. SNYDLR, 

A Writer of Verse, 

Whose severe but tcindly criticism 

has been of invaluable assistance. 



5hort Poems. 

By Grant Kyler, 
The Printer-Poet. 



Copyright. 1907. 
By Grant Kyler. 



KVLl-k eV: Sox, I'llblislUM": 
Af^hlaiid, Pciin'a 



LiBftARV ot COWeHES 

ifwo copies Secsi^oC 
DEC 6 190? 



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NTRODUCTORY. 



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Ml-: short popiim contained, herein have, 
from time to time, appeared in the 
cohimns of Thk Ashlaxd X i:\vs, a 
weekly ne\vs|)aper of limited circula- 
tion. The author has been assured 
])\ many of his fiieiids that the\- possess 
somewhat of UKM'it, and were wortliN' of a laryt-r 
audience than that affoi"ded 1)\ a countr\ lU'ws- 
jiap.er. Rather than tr\ t(. force an entraiu'e 
info the overcrowdetl paiies of the 'Uiauazines, lie 
concluded to place this nuich of his work hefore 
tlu- ])ul)lic in the form herewith ])i"esente(l. 

He does not claim for his work an\ merit 
l)iyond the ordinary, hut has tried to tell his 
story in an old-fashioned harmonious way. and 
la\s hefore a discriminatiiiii" audienci' the first 
fruits of hislahor, trusting that it contains etu)unh 
of that which is iiood to balance that which is 
bad, and asks for it otdy such consideration as 
it rio-htfully deserves. 

Should the contents of this little volume ease 
a sinyle heart-pain, h\;ihten a heav}- burck-n, 
streniithen a yood resolution, lU'uew the couraii'e 
of some falteriny- soul, or cause a ra\- of ho])i' to 
shine amidst the u'loom of des])air, the author 
will feel ami)ly rei)aid for his trouble. 

(iKAXr K^ I.Kk 
Ashland, Pennsvl vania, December, hHlT. 



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LIVING 



MORI 





00000005 

NBIDDKX ihou-hts tliey c(Miie and g-o^ 
Lisifht as the fallinti" tlakes of snow. 
Before the mind an endless throny 
In dreamy silence moves along- 
Like yhostlN' forms in misty haze 
Old scenes arise ))efore the yaze. 

Unliidden thoughts the}- come and go 
The cherished hopes we tised to know, 
So dear to us wliile life shall last. 
Rise from the ashes of tlie past 
Like thistle down that floats away 
On T)alnn- breeze of summer day. 

LInbidden thoughts — they come and go — 
At eventide when lights burn low. 
By pictures cast on niem'ry's .^^creen 
The loved and lo.st ag-ain are seen — 
Like shadows o'er the waving- g-rain. 
Or stinshine smiling- throug-h the rain. 

Unbidden thoug-hts— thej' come and go — 
With cadence sweet and measiu-e slow, 
The voice of those we cannot see 
Calls softly to us o'er the lea 
Like music from an angel choir 
When s])irit hands attune the lyre. 

I'nbidden thoughts the}- come and go 

When mem'ry's gentle zei)h3rs blow 

The curtain of the past aside 

A charming- vista opens wide 

Like that which g-reets the wear}' e3'es 

Beyond the gates of Paradise. 



m 







THE, BRIGHT 5IDL OF LIFL. 




h:>OK>000<XK><>0<><><X><>00<H><><>00<><><><>0^< 

HE ills of life are ne'er so bad '^'^ 

But what tliOA- worse could be ; 
Some otlier's lot is far more sad 

Tha!i \<)urs can ever he. 

Don't think the sun has ceased to shine 

Because the sky 's o'ercast; 
Through darkest ni<;lit, with hoi)e divine. 

The liiiiit will break at last. 



Don't tremble at some unseen foe, 

By fickle fancj- wrought ; 
Strong faith will lay the g-iant low 

And briny 30ur fears to nausiht. 

Don't fill the heart with needless lirief 

O'er tritles liohf as air; 
No sorrow is be\()nd relief 

K'en sparrows are God's care. 

D»)n't yather troid)le as you 're led 

Alony life's rnyued way; 
Close by the pathway 30U must tread 

Blooms heart's ease brio-ht and ira}'. 

Don't think the world a drearj' ])lace, 
And tilled with naiiifht but i>ain ; 

Misfortune meet with snulinsif face 
The wheel will turn auain. 

Don't crowd with selfish thouiiiits the 1 
Nor shroud the soul in doubt ; 

Do what you can to help mankind 
Kre life's dim flame yoes out. 



With trust in God and faith in ukiti 
Hide sfronerh- in the race ; 

'Tis they wljo run the best thej- can 
Win trophies of the chase. 



A 5UMMLR-DAY WORLD. 



>0<)<K>0 0<KK><>OOOOOC><><><><>00<K><><>0<>C><>0<>0 



iLOTHED in a g-lisleninjrg-liiiimering- sheen, 
I Like a far-awaj- !*ea of emerald tj^reen, 
I That sjiarkles and srieanix where sum- 
mer snns dwell 
! Rising and falling with billowy swell— 
t Clear as a mirror retleclinjr the sk}' 
As soft, fleecy clouds iloat lazih' by ; 
The sunshine and shadows odd fancies play 
O'er the fair earth on a briijfht summer da\'. 




The distant blue hills like jewels are seen, 
That deck tiie huiie crown of some Titan <jueen ; 
The hiyh moiuitain peak, in lirandeui" alone, 
With fantastic shape, api)ears like a throne 
From whose miohty presence liyhtninus are hurled 
Where th.underljolts foryed encircle the world 
With deep-throated roar and sharj) llashintr lisiht, 
Wlien Jove in his an<>:er 'rises in initiht. 



Fair as the morning- the vallej- slopes down 
Like sfraceful folds of a beautiful yfown ; 
And the velvet yreen of the roUinir plain 
Is theme for a sonir of the sweetest strain ; 
While the lace-like thread of a silver stream 
Is fairer by far than an artists dream. 
Or the frayrant blush of the dew-kissed rose 
When the fairy-wind of the morninu- blows. 



The sybarite's vision of fair paratlise. 
Nor snnles of an houri ne'er can entice 
Like beck'ninij- arms of the i-ool. shady trees 
On the island trroves in the emerald seas. 
When their bf)soms heave at the wind's behest. 
While a lan^urous voice calls mortal to rest 
Where beautiful Nature, bared to the ijaze. 
Enchants and allures throug-h soft siunmer haze. 



KNIGH 








>v^ 



ooooooooooooooooooooooo-ooooooo; 

|HE world is full of heroes, 

Oft we pass Iheni by the way. 
Who bear the brunt of battle 

And the burden of the day. 
Just privates in the army 

Of the sturd}- sons of toil. 
Who labor for a liviny. 

And who wrest it from tiie soil. 



We see them in the morniny-, 

WJien the day beiiitis to break, 
Clad in the workman's armor. 

As they sally forth to take 
Their place inlitie of battle. 

With a cheerful, sunlinii" face. 
And brave hearts true and steady 

Of the craven's fear no trace. 



They dare the unseen danyers 

in the caverns dee]) and wide. 
And toil in uloom and darkness 

With deatii ever at their side, 
And know not wheti /he summons 

Will be heard that calls them home, 
Or sends them maimed and crijjpled, 

Useless wrecks throui-h life to roan 



Oh, yes, there still are heroes, 

Thouifh they wear no corselet steel, 
Nor ride in knightly tourney 

For some noble damsel's weal, 
But fiyiit for wife and family 

With the i^iant's strenyth of ten. 
Yet think themselves no better 

Than, plain, ordinary me... 



THE. CH 



;i child, fast 
■1 wiiosi' kind, loviny 



HRK.HT pfolden snnbenni one daj^ too 

n peep 
In a dim-lit nioni where 

asleep. 
Dreamed of the a 
hand 
Had carried it safe from baln'vS own land, 
Just outside of heaven, to this world of ours. 
To vie with the sunshine in fillinij- the hours * 

With yladness, and joy, and unl)ounded love 
A i>ift from the God who dwells up ahove. 

With "ray streamers dancinji:. now here and tiow there. 
The sunbeam was cau<i:ht in the fair curl^- liair. 
And made a faint halo 'round the babe's head. 
Who smiled as it heard the ang-el's soft tread, 
And felt the lis>-ht breath from the heavenlj- win^s. 
When the ])ortal of love. wide-openini>-. swings 
Outward to let the celestial liyht 
Kiss open the eyes so lim])id and briyht. 

While watchinu- with wonder the many-hued ray 
Play hide-and-si-o-seek in the liyht dim and yray, 
I^ersonified I.o.ve, cooetl, dimpled and snuled. 
While innocent e\es the sunbeam be.uuiled ; 
Then chubbj- hands reached for the fairy-like beam, 
That shone o'er the bed in a briyht yoiden stream, 
Wlien, lo, it had vanished — hiding- away ^ 

Deep in the eyes of the baby at play. 



rfCrVt!: 



"'^H'Tn^J^rOT^TTTi^TTl^TT"^^ 




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THE BLU E5 



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HKN our lives ;ire all in n tani>le, 

And the whole world seems full of hale, 
We surelj' can make it no better 

By storuiiny and railintr at fate ; 
Just because we were not consulted 

Abotit the desiiiu of the earth. 
Or jifiven our choice in life's station 

Before the sad daj' of our birth. 

Fair da)s then appear dark and giooui}' — 

We imasrine, somewhere, a deep plot- 
That all our old friends have deserted, 

And left us 1o mourn our hard lot ; 
With no heart at all for our labors — 

For everythinu' seems to afo wron<>f — 
While the world has ttirned topSN-turv}-, 

And .life is jiot e'en worth a sont>-. 

Then mole-hills are changed into mountains 

Which tower forbidding- and tall. 
And we will not venture the ascent 

For fear we nnght stumble and fall ; 
While all that is needed is courage. 

With si)irit to dare and to do. 
When mountains will suddenl}- vanish 

And mole-hills will come into view. 

Of trouble we need never borrow — 

There's more than enougfh for us all — 
'Tis better to sing and be merrv 

Than hark to the Blue Devil's call ; 
When he starts to whimper and wony 

Remember that care killed the cat, 
Anfi, really, that life is (piite i)leasant 

So long- as we laugh and grow fat. 



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GOD'S 5 WLLTL5T GI FT. 

>0<>0<K>0<><>0<><>0<><><><>000<><>0<>00<><>00<3 

HE pfates above once opened, 

Just for a little while, 
And down to earth there fluttered 

(iod's sweetest yift a smile - 
That fair and i)eerless jewel 

Which o-reat wealth cannot buy; 
A throne-bnrst ray from heaven 

Which liij-hts the darkest sky. 

It shone with rojal sjilendor 

Where want and sorrow dwelt, 
And in the poor man's cottaye 

Caused I.ove's yreat heart to melt, 
While such a wondrous miory 

Poured forth from eyes so true 
That skies of midnii>ht darkness? 

Were changed to bri,i>htest blue. 

It filled the world with afladness. 

And to the bed of i)ain 
Brouiiht joy, and peace, and comfort. 

And Hope returned a<rain ; 
It filtered throug-h the window 

Of uuarded i)risoner's cell. 
And whispered that sweet stor\- 

Which He used love to tell. 

I'pon the face of childhood 

It's inaific touch was seen ; 
Old aye reflected beauty 

With look of faith serene; 
It chanyed the frown of anyer 

Into a yiance of love. 
And broxiyht Ood's silent message 

From Hope's briyht realm above. 



THL BROKLN B L L L. 




jLD frietid, tin- once familiar voice hath 
chanued, 
Th\- innsic, vibrant far, which filled 
The air with concert, now is stilled, 
And discords sound where once thj- 
clarion ranged. 



For 3'ears thy brazen tono-iie hath told the tale 
Of i^assinu" time, and called to prajer. 
Through winter's blast and summer's air. 

With tones that rolled o'er mountain, hill and vale. 

Fair brides hath heard thy gladsome peal of joj-, 
And blessed thee on tiieir nuptial morn. 
When love and hojje anew were born. 

And peace and bliss were theirs without alloy. 

Oft times we marked the measured strokes which told 
Of grief and sorrow, woe and death. 
And felt the touch of chilh' brcpth 

When souls innnortal shed the mortal fold. 

Now, with thy voice discordant, thoudosttell 

The stor}- of a life-work done; 

Soon thou wilt bid the netting sun 
Farewell, and harshh- sound th}- own death knell. 




NATURL'5 RLVE,LATION5. 



^OOOOOO C><><><K><><>0<>00<><><><><><K><><><>0<><>0<K>0 OOOOOO S 

AST thon ne'erfelt williin 111}- liosotn, pflow 

And l:>nrn, the sjiark almost divine, 

That shows to thee the tifreat Creator God 

In works of nature, so snblinie, 
That man should fear to doubt and cease 
to dare 
The ano-er of that Master Hand, 
Who oast a mortal form in nodlike mold, 
And cut of chaos made the land? 




Wlio made the world to move, the sun to shine 

By day, the stars and moon by lUiihtr 
And laws that hold tlie i)]anets which revolve 

Within the orbit of their tliprhtr 
Who hid within the treasiue-house of earth 

The precious tliinus that man would need'r 
And who, with omnipresent wisdom, phiced 

The <i-erm of life v.ithin the seed. 



,^- How canst thou doubt, ]:oor, puny man, that God 

»r^ Who holds the world witiiin His i)alm; 

\'' Whose l)reath of anyer is a hiu-ricane; 

Whose smile of love a sunnner calm; 
Whose hand hath l)ound the earth with mountain 
chains; 
1L-, Whose jewels deck the midnight sk}-; 

^ Whose presence is revealed on ever\- side 

c-.- Bv nature's works to mortal eve. 



Dost deem thyself so wise who cannot tell 

Whence come the winds nor whence they yoV 

Thv vaunted wisdom cannot e'en explain 
"Why suriiino- tides do ebb and ilow. 

Perchance thou wilt thy doubts maintain till death 
Thou doublinu- mem))er of our race — 

For thou wouldst d()id)t that e'en thou didst exist 
Should veils enshroud thv mirror's face. 



TO A CATERPILLAR 




OST kn<i\v,tlioii loathsome, cieei)iii<i- thitiy-, 
Whcse instinct i)ronii)ts thee when to 
weave thy shrond. 
Tliat, re-created, thoii canst wino- 

Thy tliiiht on airj' pinions to 3'on cloud, 
J And'witii th}- fairy colors t)riiiiit 
Add to the world one more deli<i-ht r 



Hast thou foreknowledo-e of the fate 

That doth await 1h\- resurrection morn, 

When thou shalt force apart death's yate 

And re-a])pear transformed and newly born ; 

A thinsj,- of beauty, blithe and iray. 

To lloat 'mid blooms where sunbeams i)la3' r 

Or dost thou do the Master's will 

rnknowiny that, some tlay, thou wilt receive 
A beauteous shape, and thus fulfill 

On earth the hope of those who now believe 
That after death their sold, like thine. 
Wilt be transformed by touch divine r 

'Tis stranye that thou, tliouyh but a worm, 

Shouldst demonstrate thai life doth follow death. 

And that the everlasting- yerm 

Will re-awake when its Creator's breath 

Shalt blow from Time's eternal shore 

And spread awide tlie tond)'s closed door. 



m 




THE TOILLR5. 

^A>\^o ^>^>^>^>v>OO^J-OXJ^><>o<><>0<>0 <H><>0<> 

1)>IH; work and toil from morn to eve 

For fame and yold; 
For wealth and ])ower siyli and niieve 

While hearts lirow cold; 
The}- seheiue and strive to yaiti the ucial 

Of worldh- praise, 
Where Time will make them ])aythe toll 

And end their dajs. 

In self absorbed some do not hear 

The helpless cr}-; 
While they push on the yoal is near 

The wear}- die; 
At last when they have trained the da\- 

Antl stop for breath, 
Ht fore them lies the y-loomv wav 

That leads to death. 

Some help the weak and cheer the stroti^- 

On life's hard road; 
Their sunn}- smile and cheerful son^- 

Makes lioht the load; 
With steadfast streno-th thev labor on 

For what is best, 
Until they hear their Lord's "well done. 

Come tluMi to rest." 



Some work and toil unto the last 

With trust divine; 
Where'er in life their lot is cast 

Hoi)e's star will shine; 
With faith so strono" it makes them bravi 

To win the strife. 
The}- fear not death beyond the yrave, 

For death is life. 





A PLLA FOR THL OUTCAST. 

^OOOOOO CK><K><>^<>0<>00<>0<>000<H><><>00<>0<H>0 OOOOOOl 

I WHY must she l^ear all the blame 

While eciual i>uilty, he, 
j The author of her sin and shame, 
I Proud owner of a father's name. 

Is set 1)_\' custom freer 

Why make lier life a living hell? 

While, just as guilty, he 
To others will the story tell 
To which she listened once and fell. 

Is hailetl where' r he her 

Why sneer at her and look witli scorn? 

While, more than y;uilt\-, he 
Who love betrayed ere it was born 
And wrecked a life in 5011th' s fair nion 

Is honored hicfh In' thee? 

Wliy nuist tlie wi)man kiss the rod? 

More yuilty he; while she 
Who froii! the narrow pathwaj' trod 
And seems to be acoirsed of God 

From wrath and scorn must flee? 

Wh}- o'er her han^- so dark a pall? 

O, far less g-uilt}-, she 
Who oave to man a woman's all. 
The priceless o-ift beyond recall 

Until eternity. 







»^.■ 






FIGHT FOR MANHOOD 



J OOOCH>CK><>0<><><><><>OCK><><>(>0 <>0-CK>00; 

HKX )-oii reach that v)lace, nij' brother 

On the road .to "I-Don't-Care," 
And the voice of conscience smother, 

And yo bhndl}- on — somewhere — 
Far from liope — to peace a stranLrer — 

Self-resjiect npon the wane — 
Turn about and face the dang-er: 

Fight for manhood once ag-ain! 

When fair-weather friends grow scornful, 

And 30U note the quiet sneer; 
While 30U laug-h, but still are mournful, 

At your plight thej- jest and jeer; 
When you dance, though tired and weary 

Of the never-changing- strain. 
And the waj' seems dark and dreary: 

Figfht the harder for the pain! 

When 30U feel as though you'd rather 

Slide down hill than climl) the steep — 
At the bottom yon will gather 

Vain regrets antl sorrows deep — 
When life seems not worth the living", 

.\^nd salvation out of reach, 
Sing- a song- of loud ftianksgiving-: 

Do not fear to storm the breacli! 

Do not waste the time in longing 

For the things that might have been; 
Orasp the chances 'round you thronging. 

For 3"Our manhood fight to win; 
Friends with hel]> are ever read^- 

In the deepest gloom of night; 
Fear no foe, stand fast and steady : 

Claim vour manhood as 3'our right! 



ffl 






OUR COUNTRY 




<>00<H><><K><>00<><>0<><>0<><>0<>0<><>OOS 

HKRITAGE that we sliotild keep, 
Witl) watchful eyes that never wlee]). 

Untarnished, clean and pure; 
With lojal hearts, undaunted, true. 
To God and countr}-, brave to do 

And dare, e'en death endure, 
Whene'er the vandal hand of shatne 
Would foul her loved and honored name. 



1 A nu'g-hty land that God has blessed. 

Safe refuye and a place of rest 
7(j^ For men of every clime; 

Bec|ueathed to us in trust to hold 
And honor more than self or liold. 
And serve with faith sublime, 
'Till freemen do not tear to treatl 
Beneath their heel the seri)ent's head. 

A i)riceless ijift whose sacred sod 
We consecrate to Thee, Oh, God 

Of Nations, while we praj- 
That Thou wilt oive us strencfth to ho-lit 
Until the dawn of frt-edom's liyht 

Shall usher in the day 
When strife shall cease, and unto Thee 
The first and last aiii)eal will be. 




THE, VALLLY OF THE, 5HADOW. 

O O O O <><KH>00 0<H3-0-(>0 <><><><><><) <KK><><>0 ^ 

■^ oliildren fear the dark 
We dread to enter into that dim vale 
Where mortals all must walk, 
Hand touching- hand with yrief; wliere 

hope g-rows pale, 
And the strong: fires of faith 
Are dimmed b3' bitter tears, as on we i)lod, 
Close-clasped in woe's embrace. 
And seek in vain relief while donbting- God. 




Far in the deep'ningf gloom 

Of that dank place where death and sorrow I 

There glows a spark of love. 

That, like the new-born sun grows strong-, and 

The soul with grace to bear 

The burden that each heart nnist hold alone 

Until it tinds release 

And strength through ])ra3'er before the great 

throne 
At Heaven's mercv seat. ' 



I roods 
floods 







